This blog is a part of self discovery, a symbol of my passion for writing - my madness, an attempt to be a part of the 'Write-A-Thon'. This is my space - beyond the judgement of others. Here, I dabble mostly in romance, poetry, shayari, book reviews, social issues that bother me and trending topics (venturing out of my comfort zone) with a dash of personal insights about life - an entertaining fiction itself!

First look at the title and you'll get a feel that you are about to undertake a
journey in to the world of worms or something like that. But it's not the way
it looks. The title and cover are deceptive. Though the book is a piece of fiction
with fictional characters. the author has borrowed everything from reality.

‘Whisper
of the Worms’ has freshness written all over it. The story is a far cry from
chic-lit romances and is a poignant tale of a cancer patient who, during the
final days of his life, faces harassment from investigating bureaus for
corporate criminal proceedings he has not done.

What
I like best about this book is the blending and wonderful portrayal of the
philosophy of life all within a bank culture. The gist of the novel lies in its
portrayal of a present connecting with its past. No book has explained carrot
and sticks in banking industry better.

The
narration is beautiful, since the protagonist is a simple, truthful and
innocent person, untouched and uninfluenced by the corruption around him. His character
has been beautifully penned.

We
never really understand the pain and frustration of people who work in banks,
government jobs and when they complain about not getting their due promotions
or a junior being allowed to go up the ladder. It was only upon reading this
book one can sympathize from the heart all the agony of the stick, carrot and
donkey system. Banking industry people can relate to the book easily.

The author needs to be really
appreciated for seeing through the system of working in organizations and he
does it with a lot of satirical wit that can cut through the skin so to say.
The Kerala backdrop is nicely described.

The flashbacks are introduced at just the right moments. Their beauty lies in
the fact that while not all of them might take the story forward, they always
succeed in throwing light on the character himself.

The author has refrained from
giving the protagonist a physical description, making him a kind of Everyman
that could just as easily be one of us.

The
story is emotional and heart warming. I liked the way the son and father’s
relationship is weaved in the fiction. Despite slow in pace and narration, the
book of 317 pages has a beautiful story and with an insertion of a story of
vicious corporate banking world. The book is not a predictive.

Many
people have suffered injustice at one point of time in their lives - being made scapegoat just to make way for the
corrupt ones. "Whisper of the Worms" brings out a tale of one such
injustice and the inside of the banking industry.

The
author has created a beautiful imaginary world and a corporate set up and a
scandal which goes way too deep beyond anybody's imagination. He is not just
intelligent with an excellent command over writing but possesses deep
insightful eyes that brilliantly amalgamate the world of reality and fiction.

The
author makes another brilliant move towards the climax and simply checkmates
you when he lends a refreshing touch to the subjects of death and after-life.

It
is, undoubtedly, one of the finest books to have emerged in recent times and
deserves to earn the spotlight it has been kept bereft of. The whole story is
essentially based on human reaction, emotional experience and complex and
frustrated humanity.

P.S: The book sold excellently among
banking fraternity in India. Recently Shri P K Sarkar, President of All India
Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) garlanded him for the splendid work.

Wednesday, 24 September 2014

Yet again (4th time, Yay!), I have been nominated by Vinitha
Dileep for the Liebster Award. You can visit her here:
http://vinithadileep.wordpress.com/

Blogging has always been a nice experience for me - to share
what you ponder, raise your concern over what bothers you and get appreciation
in return. People motivate me to write. I feel so happy, honored &
privileged to have been nominated. Thank you Vinitha, I’m delighted to accept
this award!

Liebster rules:

The Liebster Award is intended to promote love and spread
blogging goodness amongst upcoming bloggers. The name is German in origin and
means “sweetest” “dearest” etc. and sort of operates like a chain email.

Here are the rules of the award:

1] Link back to the blogger who nominated you.

2]Answer the 11 questions given to you by the blogger who
nominated you.
3] Nominate 11 other bloggers with less than 200 followers.

4]Go to the blogs you nominated and notify them of your
nomination.
5] Give your nominees 11 questions to answer.

My answers to Vinitha's questions:

1. What
is the meaning of your name?

Aayesha
means 'she-who-lives' or one who is full of life. The name of Prophet
Muhammad's wife was Aayesha; the name also means the moon goddess personified.

2. Do
you have a guilty pleasure? What is it?

> Yes, I do! Practicing the perfect
'look-of-the-day' in front of the mirror! :P

> Romantic love novels - I can spend my
entire day reading romance!

> Eating junk food!

3. What
do you like to do other than reading and writing?

I like
studying and knowing more about things, but that doesn't make me a nerd. I love
hanging out and travelling to new places too.

4.
Which is your favorite book?

Ah! The
one I can't wait to hold! My first book as a contributing author - 'The Second
Life'!

5. What
is your favorite quote?

A
recent favorite - "Be an encourager, the world has plenty of critics
already!"

6. Is
there anyone (real or fictional) who has influenced you in your life so far?

I think
everyday many things or people can influence you. My biggest influence always
have been my parents; but then influence ka kya hai!? A mere falling apple influenced
Newton! :D

7.
Happiness is weekends!

8. What
do you think you are, an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert
who can be modified to extrovert ;)

9. I
lovemyself!

10. How
many blog posts have you published so far?

It
becomes 146 with this thanksgiving post!

11. Do
you think there is life after death? Explain.

This
subject is usually addressed with goofy speculation, close-minded stubbornness,
or outright fear. However, I live in today without bothering about tomorrow! I
take each day as it comes. I believe rather than worrying if there's life after
death, we should bring 'life' to our present! Even science doesn't give a satisfying answer
to this! So better live a meaningful today! :)

Great questions, Vinitha! Loved answering them, discovered a
bit of myself while I answered them! :D

This time I'm not nominating anyone. I have already done it
thrice for all the talented bloggers I knew!

An
absorbing read that doesn't resort to sensationalism to retain the
reader's interest. Good plot, good language and crisply written.

A
tight plot and racy action took me hurtling towards a tense climax. Insight
into the top echelons of corporate India and the banking industry was an added
bonus. Believe me, it's a mean, murky world.

Mr. Raman has done justice to the
readers expectations and his awesome writing skills keep you glued to the
story.

Raman weaves a web of deceit which is quite gripping. The reader from
the early chapters can get an idea of what is happening and as the story
progresses is prepared to see what's coming. From the very beginning, it is
clear that Fraudster is a thriller of the highest level.

The author hides all the clues to the perpetrator right out in the open and it
is for the readers to pick up the hints. The author takes us for a ride
throughout the book right till the climax. The characters are well fleshed out
and very distinctive from each other. Each character has something to add to
the story.

The author narrates the story with
a certain flair that compliments the plot and helps build the grit of the
story. Raman's background in financial circles has certainly helped him in
terms of being authentic, and some of the procedures are certainly enlightening
to lead. At the same time, one does not need to have any in-depth knowledge of
financial terms to be able to follow the plot.

The
amazing part about the novel is its interesting plot and how complicated
technical aspects are described in a simple manner.

The book cover having a silhouette against the backdrop of a skyline is captivating!

RV
Raman knows what he is writing about. He knows when to use what and how to play
with it to strengthen the characters and the plot of his book. He has tried to
simplify everything for a reader who is not from the banking world.

A
very gritty, realistic and interesting mystery that is a must read for all
mystery lovers.

Saturday, 20 September 2014

If
you want to put pen to paper and see what unfolds, it’s time to awaken to your
identity as a writer. The greatest rewards of writing exist as you see your
stories published, your characters being cherished by people.

As
I unearth my voice in 'In The Classroom
of Life' in an anthology called The
Second Life, I feel nostalgic as I walk the lane when I first started blogging.
It was so random that I'm myself amazed where it has landed me now! The journey
has been enjoyable and so fruitful. Being a part of The Second Life, An Anthology
of 25 Life Changing Stories makes me feel proud to have followed my passion.

Blurb:

"There
comes a moment in your life when you feel terribly vulnerable, helpless without
any hope and faith, and alas you forget the fact - your helplessness can never
leave you irreparably shattered. Trust me, sometimes at this very
moment, 'newness' from nowhere will intervene in your life and change
everything. Just everything. That newness brings in front of you a more
inspirational and exciting journey known as THE SECOND LIFE."

The
Write India team selected 25 life changing stories that will inspire you, after
a nationwide hunt for inspiring stories. The editor is bestselling author Bhavya Kaushik and
it is compiled by Prakash Kumar.

Our
book celebrates new beginnings! You raze the old to raise the new. Always
remember, the beginning of compunction is beginning of the second life.

Wednesday, 10 September 2014

Anthologies attract me. They give a quick read in a short span of time and empower us in a special way.

‘Café Latte’ by Amit Shankar is a collection of eighteen short stories from different genres of life. Each story has a different theme. A refreshing book after a long time! The cover sets the context of what lies ahead - dark and profound. Beautifully crafted, each story is like a gem. You can debate about the intensity of colors and shades but what you can’t is how artistically the author has articulated life in its various shades.

Amit explores human relationships, life, death and all that happens around us in daily life. As you cross each page, you interpret life more better and it takes a great story teller to do that to you.

The reason behind my interest for Cafe Latte was its tagline "18 unusual short stories" and the catchy cover design. Each story is unusual and is a perfect blend of emotions.

You get a glimpse of many lives, many revelations, and many stories around us. We hardly notice people around us but the circumstances cited in the book are a reality. Precisely, this book nudges us to come out of our unconsciousness resulting from lack of interest in our surroundings, and presents an opportunity to observe life more.

I appreciate Amit for his acute perception of reality and his observation power as a writer. The book shows what Amit is really capable of and he writes with skill and manages to make you feel the emotions of his characters in a deep manner.

The compelling stories change the way you look at life. This honest attempt of exploring relatively unusual and unexplored human emotions and situations makes this book really powerful in terms of its story telling with utter conviction.

The fact that this is an anthology featuring a single author, the reader does get an insight into the variety of topics that he can handle. And just for this, Café Latte is worth a read. This book gives one a straight message to think beyond the usual and comprehend the meaning of uncommon, unwanted and uncustomary experiences.

Saturday, 6 September 2014

The
Devil's Gate: An Impossible Journey by Deepak Kripal is a debut fiction/ thriller. It is a story
about animals, sensible ones, who can talk, listen and understand each other.
The theme of story is - Sidelined by Man, Animals turned to Demons.

Overall The
Devil's Gate: An Impossible Journey by Deepak Kripal is quite interesting to read. I
loved the sense of humour he has put in the book, the situations, the twists, and
the characters are spot on!

This
book is a masterpiece of writing. Writer not only carries you along the journey
of his imaginary creatures but in between gives you the feel of a different
world nobody would like to go in, but you just cannot stop unveiling the truth.

The
plot of the story is so different and refreshing that after a few pages, one
feels a sort of addiction to the story and you just can't stop after
that. The mystery unravels beautifully and the shock climax is just icing on
the cake.

When
I started reading the book, I was wondering why a cat and a dog is chosen as
the protagonists. But the questions are also answered in the second half of the
book. Weird though it may sound, ‘The Devil’s Gate: An Impossible Journey’ is
relevant.

Though
the story has animals and demons as its central characters, the main focus is
on the fight of good against evil. The book also makes one realize that though
good will ultimately prevail over evil, it is impossible to eradicate evil from
its root.

The
story also highlights the plight of the animals and nature due to rapid
urbanization of the earth by man. This is a story of courage and commitment. A
thriller no doubt, the plot also has an element of love hidden in it, love that
surfaces in trying times. The vividness of the descriptions is also
commendable.

The
language is simple, engaging and lucid. The narrative is fast paced and flows
freely and smoothly. One can visualize the scenes as the story progresses.

The
characters central to the theme are well etched with all their imperfections. There
are quotes in between which leave you inspired!

It
takes courage to write on concepts and notions which rarely catch the fancy of
other writers. Even if one does choose to settle down to an ‘unheard-of’
theme, it takes even more courage to put it into words and deliver to
the readers, exactly what it had intended to deliver in the first place. In
that regard, the effort and the skill of this debut author must be applauded
generously, for indeed, he has made a point and has successfully made the
readers see, what he had intended them to see.

What
I liked the best in the book was the underlying message that becomes the
foundation stone of the book. Along with its unique evils and demons, the book
is surely meant to lure children and teens. I also liked the surprise which
awaited the reader at the turn of every chapter, here, I must say, that the end
was very unpredictable and kept getting more and more mysterious as the pages
flipped by. Overall a good read, I recommend this book to fantasy lovers, especially young children and teenagers.

There
are places where long descriptions make the things a little boring (especially
in the second half); but overall it all relies on tight writing.

The
last two pages confirms that the story doesn’t end here. Seems the solved one
is just a part of the problem, the main problem stills hangs on the head. Yes,
we are talking about the next part or sequel of the book for sure.

Overall,
a nice and gripping thriller. The book is appealing for the children as well.
It would be interesting to see its response by children.

Ratings:
3.5/5

P.S: This post is for Write Tribe. See here for more
details: http://writetribe.com/the-devils-gate/

Tuesday, 2 September 2014

The
cover art is appealing and the title is very unique. Both these things catch
the attention of the reader.

The
story has been amazingly penned. I loved every single character in the book,
even the bad guys. Congratulations Aarti V. Raman! You have a way with words.

Set
mainly in the breathtakingly beautiful Kashmir Valley, but also travelling to
England, Central America (Mexico), Ladakh and Tibet, the protagonists' journey is
far from simple. The characterization is noteworthy and the author gives us
people who are complicated and flawed with their own share of mistakes and
wrong decisions but still they are able to win our hearts and connect with us
due to their actions which speak of their inherent goodness. It is the
supporting characters that come across as more real and add depth to
the story.

Kingdom
Come could have been a typical story in many ways. Terrorism and Kashmir,
or a man and a woman falling in love while fighting for survival
against a dangerous adversary aren't new plot lines. It could easily have been
the usual angst-filled love story were it not for the characters, the research
behind the plot, and the plot twists.

Overall,
the book is well paced, and it doesn't have any obviously gaping holes in it.
Raman has researched the elements of her story well, providing realistic
descriptions of places and situations, especially the ins and outs of the
military operations.

Emotions
are Aarti V Raman' thing! She depicts them well, and makes you ache with unshed
tears; exult with happiness; or tremble with fear or loathing.

The
description of army procedures or the life saving procedures employed by the
army gives us an insight into the minds of these brave men and women who risk
their lives daily so that others can live free and safely. The poignant and
heart breaking reality of the families who send their sons, daughters,
brothers, husbands etc. to serve their country is also beautifully painted in
the book. After reading the book, I have a renewed respect for the army and the
people who work day and night to keep us safe.

The
way the author has narrated the whole story is admirable for a debut work. The
words are chosen so brilliantly that they give this story the perfect
atmosphere needed. From choosing the names to framing the characters,
everything has been done so well that readers can easily visualize everything.

Spy thrillers are one of the best genres to read. This
book has – a solid and tense plot, formidable protagonists, noxious villains,
gut wrenching fight sequences and a shocking climax. The constant dose
of romance makes the narrative juicy when it begins to get dry. The constant
tension between the protagonists has been well presented. The building up of
their restrained yet passionate relationship is well done.

In
conclusion, Kingdom Come is a commendable effort, although there is
much scope for improvement. I think some good editing could have pruned a lot
of it and brought a steady flow and brevity to the book. The plot, the
characters, the zealous love story, and the intense emotions are well worth a
try and if you are a fan of romance fictions, “Kingdom Come”
shouldn’t be missed.